Papaya tree named &#39;AURORA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Carica papaya  plant named ‘AURORA’, particularly characterized by its vigorous growth; year-round high yield; parthenocarpic, globose to slightly elongated fruit of 600 g on average; medium orange, juicy, firm flesh with rich taste and no aftertaste; and suited to mediterranean growing conditions.

BOTANICAL NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Carica papaya L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘AURORA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a papaya plant, botanically known as Carica papaya L., the only species of the single genus of the Caricacea family, and hereinafter referred to by the denomination ‘AURORA’.

The new Carica papaya variety is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Assaf Avizohar, in Hakfar Hayarok, Ramat Hasharon Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Carica papaya variety suitable for subtropical climate, with parthenocarpy, regular fruit with an average weight of 600 g, having a mild taste without aftertaste, and high yield.

The new Carica papaya variety originated from a cross made by the inventor in the year 2005 in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Carica papaya variety ‘MALKA’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Carica papaya designated ‘SUNRISE’, unpatented. The new Carica papaya ‘AURORA’ was observed and selected by the inventor within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in the year 2005 in Ramat Hasharon, Israel.

The new Carica papaya ‘AURORA’ was selected by the inventor based on suitable fruit size and fruit shape, high yielding and year-round parthenocarpic i.e. seedless fruit, having a good orange color and mild taste.

Asexual propagation of the new Carica papaya variety by meristem culture was first performed in 2009 in Kibbutz Bet Haemek, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety propagates true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be characteristics of ‘AURORA’, which in combination, distinguish this papaya plant as a new, unique and distinct variety: having.

1. vigorous growth;

2. year-round high yield;

3. parthenocarpic, globose to slightly elongated fruit of 600 g on average;

4. medium orange, juicy, firm flesh with rich taste; without aftertaste and

5. suitable for mediterranean growing conditions.

In comparison to the female or seed parent, ‘MALKA’, and the male or pollen parent ‘SUNRISE’, ‘AURORA’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent varieties. Female Parent Male Parent New Variety ‘MALKA’ ‘SUNRISE” Trait ‘AURORA’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Sex expression parthenocarpic female hermaphrodite Color dark orange pale yellow dark orange Fruit shape round to slightly elongated pear-shaped elongated Taste rich flat mild

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Carica papaya ‘AURORA’ is the variety ‘PARADISE’ (unpatented) which mainly differs from the new papaya ‘AURORA’ as shown in the table below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with most similar variety. Comparison Variety New Variety ‘PARADISE’ Characteristic ‘AURORA’ (unpatented) Sex expression parthenocarpic female

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Carica papaya variety ‘AURORA’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed morphological description, which accurately describe the color of ‘AURORA’.

FIG. 1—shows an about 1 year-old fruit bearing plant of ‘Aurora’

FIG. 2—shows a close-up of a typical inflorescence of ‘Aurora’

FIG. 3—shows a typical leaf of ‘Aurora’

FIG. 4—shows a typical fruit of ‘Aurora’

FIG. 5—shows a longitudinal section of a ripe fruit of ‘Aurora’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Carica papaya ‘AURORA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, soil or pruning without any change in the genotype of the papaya plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘AURORA’ as grown in the Hof Carmel, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Unless otherwise stated, the detailed morphological description includes observations, measurements and values based on 1.5-year-old plants of ‘AURORA’ grown in Hof Carmel, Israel. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average or a range of measurements taken from a number of plants of ‘AURORA’. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average or range.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in full sunlight in Hof Cannel, Cannel region, Israel.

All of the plants of ‘AURORA’, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in all the characteristics described below.

TABLE OF CHARACTERISTICS

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Carica papaya. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Carica papaya ‘MALKA’ (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Carica papaya ‘SUNRISE’ (unpatented). -   Propagation: meristem culture/rooted cuttings -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.         -   Temperatures.—Between April and October average day             temperature is 25° C. to 33° C. During November to March             average day temperature 5° C. to 17° C.         -   Planting distance.—2.5×2.10 m.         -   Soil.—loam.         -   Irrigation.—in greenhouse during winter 20 m3/ha, during             summer 40 m3/ha.         -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of NPK             7-3-7, with addition of micro-elements.         -   Growth regulators.—none used.         -   Pruning.—No pruning or support needed. When the trees are             freely grown, the size and the shape assumed by the trees             are typical of Carica papaya.         -   Plant height.—2.7 m.         -   Branching.—2 or 3 incidental sideshoots on lower part of             stem.         -   Stem.—Structure: Hollow Color: Young Plant: Green, RHS 143B             Mature Plant: Greyed-Green RHS 198 B. Diameter (at 50 cm             height): about 20 cm. Thickness of lignified wall: about 5             cm Amount of nodes: numerous Position of nodes: in spiral             Distance between two nodes in the same radial position: in             winter 5 cm; in summer 18 cm Surface Texture: cracked Color             of cracks in surface: Grey-brown RHS 199 A.         -   Leaves.—Shape: lobed, circular Overall Length: 60-75 cm             Overall Width: 60-75 cm Ratio length/width: 1 Number of             lobes per leaf: 7, 8 or 9 Tertiary lobes: absent Lobe             overlapping: very strong Leaflets: absent Maximum Length of             central lobe: 50-55 cm Maximum Width of central lobe: 20-30             cm Central Lobe Shape: Spindle shaped Central Lobe Apex:             Acute Maximum Length of side lobe: 30-38 cm Maximum Width of             side lobe: 18-23 cm Color: Upper side: Green, RHS 137 A             Lower side: Green, RHS 137 C Venation: Present Prominence of             veins on upper side: level with surface of leaf Prominence             of veins on lower side: very prominent. Color: Upper side:             Yellow-green, RHS 145 C Lower side: Yellow-green RHS 145 B             Pubescence: None Blistering: absent Glossiness: absent.         -   Petiole.—Length: 80-100 cm Diameter (at base): about 20 mm             Diameter (adjunction to leaf blade): about 16 mm Shape in             cross section: circular Structure: hollow Thickness of wall:             2-3 mm Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144 B Anthocyanin             coloration: weak Pubescence: None Waxiness: None.         -   Inflorescence.—Time to Flower: About one year after             planting. Flowering Season: Year-round. Height of Attachment             of first inflorescence: Just above ground. Number of flowers             on young plant (first 2-3 inflorescences): one Number of             flowers on mature plant: usually 3; with additional             branching up to 7 Length of main axis: about 10 cm             Anthocyanin coloration of axis: absent Flower bud: Shape:             cylindrical Length: about 30 mm Diameter: about 15 mm Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 144 B Flower: Shape and Appearance:             Actinomorphic, single. Number of Petals: 5 Petal length:             50-70 mm Petal width: about 16 mm Petal shape: spatulate             Petal surface texture: fleshy, smooth Petal color, upper             side: yellow RHS 2 C Petal color, lower side: yellow RHS 2 D             Number of Sepals: 5 Sepal length: 6-9 mm Sepal width: about             2 mm Sepal thickness: about 3 mm Sepal shape: triangular             Sepal texture: fleshy Sepal color: Yellow-green RHS 144 B.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 10-20 mm Thickness: 14-23 mm Color:             Yellow-green, between RHS 144 A and RHS 144 B Shape in cross             section: irregular Surface: ribbed Pubescence: absent Resin:             milky.         -   Fruit.—Fruiting season: year-round Weight: 500-800 g Length:             12-13 cm Diameter: 9-10 cm Shape: Young fruit (first 2-3             inflorescences): globose Mature fruit: broad elliptic Shape             in longitudinal section: elliptic Shape in cross-section:             rounded Shape of stalk end: truncate Depth of depression at             stalk end: 2-5 mm Thickness of flesh at stalk end: 30-40 mm             Diameter of ring at stalk end : 20-25 mm Height of ring at             stalk end: 1-2 mm Shape of distal end: rounded Thickness of             flesh at distal end: 18-22 mm Surface texture: smooth             Thickness of skin: about 1 mm Color of skin: Yellow-green             RHS 146 B; with 10% of surface area yellow-orange RHS 23 A             Ridges: 5 or 6 up to ⅓ of the fruit from the base, 3-6 cm in             length and 4-5 mm high Color of flesh: Young fruit (first             2-3 inflorescences): green RHS 137 B Mature fruit: orange             RHS 24 A Thickness of flesh at middle of fruit: 21-25 mm             Firmness of flesh: medium firm Sweetness of flesh: T.S.S.             13-16.5° Bx Juiciness: juicy Taste: rich; without aftertaste             Abundance of placenta tissue: little Length of cavity: 60-75             mm Width of central cavity: 40-45 mm Shape of central             cavity: elliptic Parthenocarpy: present.         -   Reproductive organs.—Style: absent. Stigma: Shape:             propellor-shaped Persistence of stigma: present Diameter:             15-17 mm Number of lobes: five Color: yellow RHS 3 B Length             of longest lobe: 6-8 mm Width of longest side lobe:             irregular Shape of lobe: secondary lobed.         -   Ovary.—Shape: ovoid Length: about 30 mm Diameter: about 20             mm Surface: smooth Color: light yellowish green RHS 145 B             Pubescence: absent.         -   Seeds.—Abundant; seeds present in young plant (first 2-3             inflorescences).         -   Pest/disease resistance or susceptibility.—as common in             papaya varieties. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Carica papaya plant named ‘AURORA’, as illustrated and described herein. 